I was waked by the knocking of Adams who in reply to my “Come,” slipped in and shut the door behind him.
“They are gone!”
“Who?” I asked mechanically, though I well knew.
“Miss Drake and her friend. They went away last night, just after you came back from the station. By the way, I thought you dined with them?” he said interrogatively, and with a dash of suspicion in his tone.
“I was to dine with them;” I answered “but they were not there.” He made a long pause.
“I don’t understand!” he said. I felt that as the time which I was to cover had passed, I might speak; for all sakes I wanted to avoid collision with Adams or the appearance of deceiving him. So I said:
“I can tell you now, Sam. I was asked to dine last night with Mrs. Jack8 and Miss Anita—Miss Drake. When I came down to the room I found a letter saying that they had to go away and making a special request that I would dine alone, just as though they were there. I was not to say a word to any one about their being away. Please understand, my dear fellow—and I must ask you to take it that this is only a hint which you must accept and not attempt to follow up—that there are reasons why I should act on any request of Miss Drake’s, blindfold9. I told you last night that my hands were tied; this was one of the cords. To-day I hold myself free to explain I may now also tell you more. Last night I could do nothing. I could take no step myself,[161] nor could I help you to take one; simply for the reason that I do not know where Miss Drake is staying. She is I know stopping, or was till lately, somewhere on the eastern side of Aberdeen County; but where the place is I have not the faintest idea. I expect to know very shortly; and the moment I know I will try to inform you, unless I am forbidden. You will know in time that I have spoken exact truth; though you may have found my words or meaning hard to understand. I am more than anxious to put Marjory on guard. When you left me last night, the whole deadly seriousness of the matter grew on me, till I was as miserable11 as a man can be.” His face lightened as I spoke10.
“Well,” he said “at least we are one in the matter; that is something. I feared you were, and would be, working against me. Now look here, I have been thinking the matter over, and I daresay I have come nearer to understanding your position than you imagine. I don’t want to limit or hamper12 you in working in your own way for Miss Drake’s good; but I may tell you this. I mean to find her if I can, and in my own way. I am not fettered13 anywhere, except by the necessary secrecy14. Outside of this I am free to act. I shall keep you advised at Cruden.”
Before I was dressed I had another visitor. This time it was Cathcart who, with considerable diffidence and all the shamefaced embarrassment15 of an Englishman when doing a kindly16 action in which he may be taken as intruding17, offered me his services. I tried to set him at ease by the heartiness18 of my thanks. Upon which he expanded enough to say:
“From something Adams let drop—in all confidence believe me—I gather you are or may be in trouble about some friend. If this should be, and from my heart I trust it may not, I hope you will bear in mind that I am[162] a friend, and unattached. I am pretty well alone in the world so far as family is concerned, and there is no one to interfere19 with me. Indeed there are some who would be happy, for testamentary reasons, to attend my funeral. I hope you will remember this, old chap, if there is any fun going.” Then he went away, easy of carriage and debonair20 as usual. It was in such wise that this gallant21 gentleman made me a proffer22 of his life. It moved me more than I can tell.
I went down to Cruden by the next train, and arranged with the postmaster to send on to me at once by messenger or wire any telegram that might come directed as I had told Adams.
Towards dusk a letter was brought to me. It was in Marjory’s hand, and on my asking at once how it had come, I was told that it was brought by a mounted man who on handing it in had said “no answer” and had ridden away.
With hope and joy and misgiving23 mingled24 I opened it. All these feelings were justified25 by the few words it contained:
“Meet me to-morrow at eleven at Pircappies.”
I passed the night with what patience I could, and rose early. At ten I took a light boat and rowed by myself from Port Erroll across the bay. I hung round outside the Skares, ostensibly fishing but keeping watch for any sign of Marjory; for from this point I could see the road to Whinnyfold and the path by the beach. A little before eleven I saw a woman wheeling a bicycle down the Whinnyfold laneway. Taking in my lines, I pulled, quietly and avoiding any appearance of hurry, for I knew not whether any one might see us, into the tiny harbour behind the jutting26 rock. Marjory arrived just at the same time, and I rejoiced to see that her face bore no mark or sign of care. As yet nothing had happened.[163] We met with a slight hand shake; but there was a look in her eyes which made my heart leap. For the past thirty-six hours my anxiety for her had put aside every other feeling. I had not thought of myself, and therefore not of my love for her; but now my selfish instinct woke again in full force. In her presence, and in the jubilance of my own heart, fear in all forms seemed as impossible to realise as that the burning sun above us should be blotted27 out with falling snow. With one of her mysterious signs of silence she pointed28 to the rock that here stretches out into the sea, and whose top is crowned with long sea grass. Together we climbed the face of the cliff, and bearing across the narrow promontory29 passed over the top of the rock. We found a cosy30 nest hidden behind it. Here we were absolutely isolated31 from the world; out of earshot of every one, and out of sight except from beyond the stretch of rocky sea. In a demure32 way she acknowledged my satisfaction.
“Isn’t it a nice place. I chose it out yesterday when I was here!” For an instant I felt as though she had struck me. Just to think that she had been here yesterday, whilst I was waiting for her only across the bay, eating my heart out. However, there was no use looking back. She was with me now, and we were alone. The whole delight of the thing swept away every other feeling. With a pretty little motion of settling herself comfortably, and which to me seemed to prelude33 a long talk, she began:
“I suppose you know a lot about me now?”
“How do you mean?”
“Come now, don’t prevaricate34. I saw Sam Adams in Aberdeen, and of course he told you all about me.” I interrupted:
“No he didn’t.” The very tone of my voice enlightened her. With a smile she said:
[164]
“Then some one else did. Answer me some questions. What is my name?”
“Marjory Anita Drake.”
“Am I poor?”
“In the way of money, no.”
“Right! Why did I leave America?”
“To run away from the fireworks and the Joan of Arc business.”
“Right again; but that sounds mighty35 like Sam Adams. Well, that’s all right; now we may begin. I want to tell you something which you don’t know.” She paused. Half in delight and half in fear, for her appearance of purpose alarmed me, I set myself to listen.
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收听单词发音
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1
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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2
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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8
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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9
blindfold
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| vt.蒙住…的眼睛；adj.盲目的；adv.盲目地；n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]； 障眼物，蒙蔽人的事物 | |
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10
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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11
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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12
hamper
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| vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子 | |
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13
fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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15
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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16
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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17
intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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18
heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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debonair
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| adj.殷勤的，快乐的 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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proffer
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| v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议 | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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24
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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25
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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26
jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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27
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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28
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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30
cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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31
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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32
demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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33
prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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34
prevaricate
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| v.支吾其词；说谎；n.推诿的人；撒谎的人 | |
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35
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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